Weekly Prep Thread, March 26 - April 01, 2006

[A.T.Hagan]

March is fast running out on us and here in Florida and the last of the seasonal cool weather will pretty much go out with it. Supposed to freeze here tonight though so it's not quite all gone.

Spent yesterday working on the new henyard. Got all the corners braced and the wire stretched and stapled on one side.

Went down to Orlando today for a gun show and actually bought a gun. My daughter's seventh birthday will arrive in August so I bought her the cutest little .22 Crickett in two tone gray laminate and a stainless steel barrel. They had the most hideous pink laminated stocks on the other ones. Nice looking aperture sites on these things. Picked up some Lapua 7.62x39 ammo too, just a little as it was $12.50 a box for thirty rounds. First I've seen at a show in some years now. Cut my group sizes in half compared to the Chinese ammo.

In the "probably useless but I've always wanted one" category I also picked up a bayonet for my FR8. A fella there had a table full of used, excellent condition blades for fifteen bucks apiece. The last several I've seen were thirty five bucks or more. Another useless trinket, but a guy can't be practical all the time!

Sure hope to get my tomatoes planted soon.

How's the preppin' going for everyone else?

.....Alan.

 

[BV141]

Gasoline rotation this weekend. Off for 20+ gallons in a few moments.

The previous gasoline was from 3-11-2005 (hard to forget anniversary of Madrid Bombing.)

Used Stabil at first. When I received PRI-G from Survivalunlimited.com, I added that also.

Fuel worked fine in the mid-sized wagon.

Otherwise, consolidating preps this weekend.

bv

 

[Angel Lady]

Found a good sale on Campbells tomato and chicken noodle soup at CVS (buy 1 for 99 cent and get 1 free) so stocked up on those. CVS also has scott toilet paper on sale, 12 pack for 5.99.

 

[BREWER]

BREWER

A.T.Hagan: I'm with you my friend...spent a little $ on ammo some for a lady friend of mine who has a .22 and a .25. I reminded her if she carries the .25 that is a type of caliber that I personally don't see a lot of, and I would pick up a couple of boxes for her. $12.00/box x 5 boxes. Scheeeze. I got a couple of speed loaders and left before I did any more 'damage'. Next I went to Sam's for a small folding table to set up for canning purposes. I've ordered a 'tote' of angus chuck for tomorrow. I'll age it a bit and then use the new pressure canner. The prices of new Ball Jars, and all the 'things' you must have has gone up quite a bit since I did this a few years back. What the heck...EVERYTHING is UP in price! You got me thinking of tomatoes and chili peppers, too. "pink laminated stocks on the other ones"...mercy!

 

[wasabell]

Picked up two 5 gal gas cans for storage usage only. The new spouts do not allow refilling for on-roa vehicles (too darn short). WTF?????

But I'll get two more next month. and I'll have over 70 gal capacity for storage.

Also, got a better gubmint job (extra $100/mo) And did the "first-o-the-season" mowing. I put flags up to mark the property line where we have 3 acres for sale, and printed off another dozen maps. We're trying to sell it, and pay off all debt except for my truck note.

Filled in some pot-holes on the property, and added 6 wheelbarrow loads to the dog runs (mostly on Mako's side) to fill in low spots...She's trying to dig to China.

Re-org'd the pantry too.

 

[SmithJ]

Alan, What kind of accuracy do you get with the FR8? Do you have a scope mounted? If so, what king of mount?

 

[A.T.Hagan]

The FR8 is my truck gun so it knocks around behind the seat for months at a time without being fired so I have left it with the original iron sights. I did have a rubber recoil pad mounted as it is rather punishing to shoot such a small gun in .308 with a steel buttplate.

I'm not a rifleman in any sense of the word, but I do OK at the ranges I'm willing to shoot at when I use decent ammo in it. Mostly I keep it with the open sights, but on the rare times I make long shots I'll dial it over to one of the aperture sights. Need to find another front sight tool though.

EDITED TO ADD: Some years ago when the FR8s first came on the market one of the gun mags ran an article where they claimed to get 1.5" groups at 100 yds using match ammo. I don't recall now if they fashioned some sort of scope mount or used the original sights, but it's what they claimed. I couldn't shoot that well with a match rifle, but the friends who I have let shoot it that are better shots than I did pretty good using some Winchester ammo I had at the time. I don't recall now if we actually measured the group size but it surprised us all when we retrieved the targets.

.....Alan.

 

[summerthyme]

Got the chicken pen cleaned out and ready for the new chicks coming (supposedly) tomorrow in the mail. I'll be raising the "expensive" birds in the house in large rubbermaid container for the first week or so... it's really pretty darned early for chicks this far north. But the meat chicks will be in the outdoor pen, and I'll just watch the heat lamps and thermometer closely. I'm not sure that my predator problems in that pen are solved, (and I'm not sure WHAT the predator is... but I routinely have some small chicks simply go "missing" every year) and since I ordered some Cuckoo Marans (chocolate egg layers) at $3.57 each for straight run! ouch!!... I'll keep them inside until they're big enough to fend for themselves a little better.

The indoor house cats know better than to bother chicks... although they are fascinated by them and spend quite a bit of time in the beginning peering into the box, I've never lost one to a house cat. I raised a lone (donated) turkey poult one year, and looked in the box one morning to see it resting happily on the side of our stretched out neutered-tom orange cat, who had apparently discovered his own private Bahamas!

Sap is boiling, and running like crazy outside. As soon as it dries out a bit, I'll get the rototiller going and till under the manure we spread on the gardens yesterday.

Found a good deal at our local grocery- they were closing out some "shelf stable juice concentrates"... 100% juice, no sugar. They've always been part of my preps, because they take up much less room than the 2 quart bottles and they keep seemingly forever.. but they've also been too expensive. At a buck a can, they got to "reasonable" price. I cleaned them out... 50 cans. Yes, you have to add water to them, but we're fine on water, with an artesian well which runs whether we have power or not.

Aside from that, it's just been all dairy farming all the time. Really crazy with difficult calvings, sick calves, paralyzed cows requiring rolling, turning, hand milking and constant tending. There are days and weeks when we wonder what in the world we're doing in this business. This was one of them!

But it's supposed to warm up this week, maybe hitting 60 by the end of it. That will make everything feel better!

Summerthyme

 

[Dozdoats]

Pulled the last of the turnips and cut the last of the collards (been bolting for weeks now) for freezing before the garden spot got broken up for the first time for the spring garden to come soon. It'll get disked again about the end of the week to try and kill some more weeds before it gets laid off in rows for planting.

Started soaking some elder flowers and dried elderberries in 100 proof vodka cut a bit with distilled water to make up a batch of flu remedy. Decided not to add anything else to the mix, just the dried elderberry flowers and fruit. Will let it soak a while and the strain out the solids and bottle the tincture in dark glass bottles.

Started rehabbing a Remington 870 Magnum 12 ga. I picked up- cheep, because it looked pretty bad outside. 'Felt' mechanically sound and worked OK so I took a chance on it. Cleaned about thirty years worth of grime out of it and it slicked the action right up, now to make a first class working shotgun out of it as time and money allow.

dd

 

[north runner]

We could have used a truck gun yesterday evening. Just driving along when suddenly a big ice ball splatters our windshield. A big thump and we were blind and startled. One of the occupants of a passing car apparently threw it into our windshield. Ha ha ha. So lucky it didn't break the windshield. I did a really quick three point turn and found the kids (not positive about it being kids) who had done it - 6 of them in a car which was amazing since it took a little time to get my wits back. They went into E&E immediately. I pulled up behind them but when they realized I was their victim they took off. They must have hit 90 mph pulling right away from me and even passing another vehicle over a double yellow line. No way my little underpowered chevy could keep up. But at any rate I think I scared the crap out of them going after them like that. It was a good prep beause people do attack/ambush at times you don't expect it.

 

[Cruiser]

Finally able to give my son the rifle I built for him (Eagle Arms AR15-M4) with a complete set of web gear, magazines and 350 rds of ammo. Rotating my fuel and will be testing out my generator for hurricane season. Need to make my food run to get ready for the season too. Hate to wait until the storm is coming.

 

[A.T.Hagan]

Pulled the last of the turnips and cut the last of the collards (been bolting for weeks now) for freezing before the garden spot got broken up for the first time for the spring garden to come soon.

dd

I've still got quite a bit of turnips left in the garden. Gave a bunch to a friend last night. I may end up canning or freezing some.

We started getting those 85 degree days in January and the broccoli and Brussels srouts went toes up on me along with the mustard. I've been steadily pulling them up for chicken greens.

.....Alan.

 

[Perpetuity]

Thought I'd throw this out. Target has Grundig FR200 AM/FM/SW1/SW2 wind up dynamo radios for $19.98, half price from 39.99. Also has the led light on the front (http://www.etoncorp.com/US/products/product.aspx?catID=3&subCatID=11&prodID=28. While not a SW I would use everyday, for twenty bucks and a radio that will never need batteries, you can't complain! Also they had the Eton wind up dynamo radios with TV and NOAA and cell phone charger (http://www.etoncorp.com/U)S/products/product.aspx?catID=3&subCatID=8&prodID=20), half priced at 24.99. Also, picked up a few packages of Energizer Titanium AA 15 pack of batteries at half price, for $5.88 a package. My Target has alot of the radios, but no more batteries, after I was finished.

Don't forget, Target also has the very excellent River Rock 1.5w LED lanterns that take 4 AA batteries at 19.99, as well. Very awesome little lanterns for the price, and quite bright and well made.

I heard on another forum that Wally World has Leatherman Kick (http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/kick/default.asp) multi-tools on clearance for $9.00 each (an insanely good deal), but ours hasn't marked them down yet, but keep your eye out. Also had the good standard Buck 110 folding knife for $15, as well.

Also did the stock up on Prepper's Choice TP (Scott 12 packs) at 5.99 a package at CVS, as well as the eight roll pack of Bounty paper towels at the same price, as well.

It was interesting to note that at Target, they also had a few other emergency radio light combos that were in clearance (none close to the Grundig/Eton quality), but hurricane and tornado season is coming up as well.

 

[Nuthatch]

Just back from Big Lots where there are some bargains to be had.

Trio brand (Nestle owned) Cheese Powder:
enough to make 5 quarts-80 2 oz. servings for $3.49

Gatorade pwdered mix: Original flavor; makes 1 quart: 50 cents

Various organic soups/salad dressings.
Progresso soups dated until 2008 for 99 cents each.

 

[Pearl]

Got 2 camellias and 1 valencia orange in the ground this past weekend. The camellias are tea varieties, so I'm thinking this time next year I might have some home-grown tea brewing.

Pearl

 

[gillmanNSF]

I just had a bombshell dropped on me

Landlord says I have to move ALL my stuff out of the garage, cabinets and racks I had put up to hold much of my food and other preps now have to be stored somewhere else. All because other tenants keep dumping their stuff. They know I keep all my stuff neat and clean, but they need to go back to zero tolerance, which I agree with, but they're only giving us a week and it's going to rain most of the week! It will be like moving out from a small apartment.

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, but know it is a good thing, that I've been putting off getting things squared away. It's D-day and I have to dump or donate anything that I am not using and make room for my preps. I want them close by not in a storage facility. I have an 8x5 space at a storage facility, looks like I'll have to rent another one, at least temporarily. I do tend to procrastinate, but now it looks like Providence has hastened my plans, as if I should have everything completed as soon as possible. Something is coming and I need to finish my preps.

 

[blueberry]

Been working on the garden, getting it ready for spring planting. The spinach is still going strong, with no signs of bolting, and I have enough extra for freezing. The turnip greens bolted, and the lettuce died, so now I need to dig up that part of the garden.

My largest pear tree is covered with teeny tiny pears, so I hope we don't get another freeze. The dwarf fruit trees have not even bloomed yet - like they are holding back the blooms, cause they know it is going to freeze again.

Bought more chicken for the freezer and more pasta for the pantry.

 

[Taz]

Made a run on Sams Club yesterday and got pork loins for $1.74#. Then got 24 # of skinless, boneless chicken theighs that I will can in the morning. Got some canned salmon, years worth of coffee, noodles and 40# macaroni, case of TP and 50# of beautiful Texas Sweet onions which I will dry half and can the rest. Will also chunk up the pork loins and can and 20# ground chuck.
We are back in Florida but I dare not start a garden as we may have to head back to Houston. Will know on Wednesday.
Dried ten lbs of apples today and want to get some more and some strawberries to dry. So feel that I did pretty good prepping this week end.
Taz

 

[Big Bob]

I bought a 2000 watt inverter at Pep Boy's. It was $199.99 after rebates.
It is a Vector, I hooked it up to one deep cycle and played around with it some. My 7 1/4 inch circular saw seems to run ok from it. It would be way to much for one battery to run it much though with such a heavy load. I will bank up several batteries and give it a " Burn In" run one day this week. We are on Vacation and spring break from Pre School and geting some fence repairs caught up. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy so
it's off to Aldi's and Sam's Club.

 

[dissimulo]

Several months ago, I bought a neigboring property that was just a parking lot. I've been removing the blacktop and turning and amending the soil since then. This weekend, I planted eight fruit trees - the beginning of the small orchard that I plan to turn the old parking lot into. Two apple, two asian pear, two cherry, a crabapple, and a quince.

 

[jazzy]

at the local raleys grocery store they had a sale on the 1.5 ltr Vendange wine, 2004 for $3.99. its usually $9.99. being the winos we are, i stocked up. i dont care much for the white wines, but the reds are pretty durn good. cabernet, merlot, shiraz and cab-merlot mix.

when TSHTF id like to be on the (albeit temporary) sidelines with a nice little unpretentious vino sipping genteely with friends and family as the sun sets on life as we know it.

dont forget the brandy. purely medicinal, you know.

 

[Lurking LRRP]

Bought a peach tree to be planted this weekend. I know it is long term, but it helps. The potatoes in the bucket experiment is going okay.

Got another countryside magazine in the mail today

Best to all

Lurking LRRP

 

[A.T.Hagan]

Everyone so caught up in the immigration mess they've stopped prepping for the week?

I spent the day working on my new hen yard. Got the five foot fence stretched and stapled. It's old wire so it's not very pretty, but it's functional which is all that I ask. Started trenching out around the bottom for the wire I'm going to bury. Haven't quite completely visualized how I'm going to do the top wire, but I'm sure I'll figure it out as I go along. I'm hoping to have it finished by the end of the weekend.

Decided today that I'm definitely going to do the double yard thing. I'll build the second one this Fall.

.....Alan.

 

[Dinghy]

I've dehydrated a lot of frozen vegetables this week. I also got about 10 cans of broccoli cheddar soup to use my dehydrated broccoli in. I planted the garlic that I didn't get done in the fall and turned over the compost pile. Got some baby shampoo and bars of soap for the coming grandkid. I also started another batch of Lemoncello.

 

[barb43]

Everyone so caught up in the immigration mess they've stopped prepping for the week?

.....Alan.

Kinda wondered that myself . . . Don't know what page this was on, did a search to find it.

I'm excited - and Sweetie 'n DS are laughing like it's Christmas - we got a box today from Campmor (got a box each from internet grocer and beprepared earlier in the week). Sweetie said matter-of-factly, "So i see you're prepping for Y3K!" Only bought things in 1's and 2's to try out -- and we all agreed that's the way to find out what we like.

We've been talking it out as a family -- short term, mid-range, and longterm preps: what are we doing? Even DS, who used to mock prepping altogether got into a big discussion before dinner tonight on where and how we'd get water if it didn't come out of the faucet! That gets chalked up in the "win" column, in my mind!

Otherwise, all 3 of us have some kind of sore throat/head cold thing going on so we stocked up on Vit. C drops (generics) from Wal-Mart this evening, 76 cents a bag.

 

[Deep Blue Dragon]

We added compost to our beds and planted all the peppers, tomatoes and herbs. I started seeds for five varieties of squash.

I got a worm bin and am figuring it out.

I have been organizing the "bird flu preps" in an old chest of drawers; also stocking up on flu meds of various types (but my youngest son found the ginger ale and drank it all!).

More freeze dried items arrived (backordered cheese and fruit from Emergency Essentials); also a case of freeze dried chicken and another of eggs. Combined with the Mountain House items already received through JC's deal we are pretty well set for quite a few months (there are six of us, so there's a LOT of storage food).

 

[prudentwatcher]

Well, I've been 1000 miles away from home for the last three weeks helping to take care of my folks--mom in hosp/rehab/skilled nursing since early Jan and dad with a triple bypass two and a half weeks ago. They both came home today!!! So I've spent the last few weeks trying to get them somewhat prepped as they will be pretty well homebound for another month or so unless someone drives them. They have plenty of food, water, tp, laundry detergent, soap, medicine and the likes. The house is clean (well, pretty much--not my strong suite) and the laundry is done. I would have done more, but they are planning on moving to an independent living facility in the next 6-8 months and are focused on getting rid of stuff.

I did manage to get two fleece blankets, 10 boxes of bandages (on sale + coupons) and 2 packages of underwear during my stay here. I only brought one suitcase or I would get more.

I'm ready to get home and get caught up on everything and get my garden started. THen I have to find room to put all of the stuff that has piled up in my den. It probably multiplied in my absence.

 

[ARMY RANGER]

rotated my gas today ,its agood thing it went to 2.63 a gallon here. I also picked up a jerky dehydrator this week and I am planning to make some this weekend after the gun show in rochester NY. I am going to try to pick up some more 7.62x39 for my colt AR. Hope ya all have a great weekend!

 

[Deena in GA]

This week we've added more food, especially canned chicken, and water to the preps. Also began tilling the garden - hope to finish tomorrow or Saturday and get started planting. We've also moved the raised beds (hopefully for the last time) and made one long bed out of them. We planted two new apple trees. Seems one of the pear trees has died so I hope to replace it, probably with two, tomorrow.

 

[Dozdoats]

Nope, haven't quit.

Got the welder to come out today and we cut the steel door into the conex box that is to serve as my very own personal private hemanwomanhatersclub office and workshop. It will double as a storm shelter too, since it is apt to be more durable than the house. I plan to get it anchored securely with home-made duckbill anchors at each corner. Even though it weighs 9000 pounds empty, I'd feel better with it tied down. This close to the coast hurricanes are a potential threat, and there are always tornados to be concerned with too.

dd

 

[A.T.Hagan]

rotated my gas today ,its agood thing it went to 2.63 a gallon here.

This reminds me that I need to do the same with about three cans.

Deena, I lost a pear tree as well. Fire blight was just awful last year. Guess I'll have to replace it come next winter.

.....Alan.